Landowners approach Centre over farmhouse demolitions in Punjab

Days after the Housing and Urban Development Department demolished 11 structures, including farmhouses in Ropar’s Bardar forest area, landowners across Mohali, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur and Pathankot have approached the Union Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Forests, alleging harassment over eco-tourism operations.

The department’s Town and Country Planning wing had earlier issued notices to owners for raising constructions in areas removed from the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). The Forest Department had requested that the Housing Department acts against structures coming up in these delisted zones.

Prior to that, the Eco-Tourism Development Committee (EDC), headed by the Secretary of Forests and Wildlife, had rejected regularisation requests of nearly 100 landowners who had built farmhouses under the eco-tourism model.

The EDC found the structures violated the state’s Eco-Tourism Policy. Following these actions, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the affected owners to approach the Union Ministry of Environment and the state government for redress.

In their representations, landowners argued that the Housing Department was acting beyond its jurisdiction, claiming eco-tourism activities fell within the Forest Department’s domain since these related to soil conservation. They maintained their projects complied with the guidelines under the Environment Ministry and the amended Forest Conservation Act (FCA).

They further cited the September, 2023, FCA amendment, which permitted eco-tourism in private forest areas based on forest management plans, ecological capacity, and climatic factors under Sections 4 and 5 of the PLPA in Ropar and Garhshankar forest divisions.

Policy under review

• The government is considering allowing farmhouses on over one acre in Kandi areas
• Concerns have been raised over impact on ecologically fragile Shivalik foothills and forest cover
• The proposed policy may cover areas delisted under the Punjab Land Preservation Act under GMADA near Chandigarh
• Several influential persons, including politicians and bureaucrats, own land there